Overview
A fluid is any material that flows in response to an applied force, therefore liquids and gases are fluids. Their motion accounts for most transport and mixing in natural and man-made processes and within all living organisms. Fluid physics is the study of liquid and gas motion and the associated transport of mass, momentum and energy. The need to better understand fluid behavior has created a multidisciplinary research community whose ongoing vitality is marked by the continuous emergence of new fields in basic and applied science. The International Space Station’s low-gravity environment offers a unique place to study fluid physics and transport phenomena. Nearly weightless conditions allow researchers to observe and control fluid phenomena in ways not possible on Earth. Research areas include adiabatic two phase flows, flow boiling and condensation, capillary flows and interfacial phenomena, and flows related to cryogenic systems.
Current Fluid Science Experiments
Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE)
The proposed research aims to develop an integrated two-phase flow boiling/condensation facility for the International Space Station (ISS) to serve as a primary platform for obtaining two-phase flow and heat transfer data in microgravity.
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Zero Boil-Off Tank-NC (ZBOT-NC)
Affordable and reliable cryogenic fluid storage for propellant or life support systems is integral to all phases of NASA’s projected space and planetary expeditions.
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Archived Fluid Science Experiments

Two-Phase Flow in a Microgravity Environment (TPFSE)
Flow is essential to many processes, and there are seven kinds of flow distinguishable on earth due to forces imposed by gravity. Microgravity is able to simplify flow due to the almost non-existent amount of gravity present; there are three principal types of flow regimes in microgravity: bubbly, slug, and annular.
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Fluids Research Future
Glenn Research Center's future Fluids Research

What is Fluid Physics?
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Where are we going?
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How will we get there?
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Why? (Benefits to Earth and Science)
Learn about those of the NASA corps who make “space sailing” their career profession.